Method for continuous, frame-specific click-stream recording

ABSTRACT

A data processing system-implemented method can be used to better track a user&#39;s movements between network addresses. The method can comprise sending a frame identifier and a requested (current) network address at a first time. The method can also comprise finding a record including the frame identifier that has a prior network address and a time prior to the current time. The method can further comprise generating an entry for a table that includes the frame identifier, the current network address, the prior network address, and time. A server computer or a client computer can generate the entry. Improved accountability and improved user profile accuracy can be obtained with the method. A data processing system readable medium can comprise code that includes instructions for carrying out the method.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. PatentApplication No. 60/208,889 entitled “Method For Click-Stream AnalysisUsing Web Directory Reverse Categorization” by McCullough filed Jun. 2,2000, and U.S. Patent Application No. 60/208,890 entitled “Method ForContinuous, Frame-Specific Click-Stream Recording” by McCullough Jun. 2,2000. This is also related to United States Patent Application No.(Attorney Docket VIGN1260-1) entitled “Method For Click-Stream AnalysisUsing Web Directory Reverse Categorization” by McCullough filed of evendate. All applications listed in this paragraph and are assigned to thecurrent assignee hereof and are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates in general to methods and data processing systemreadable media, and more particularly, to methods of tracking movementbetween network addresses and data processing system readable media forcarrying out those methods.

2. Description of the Related Art

Internet Service Providers (“ISPs”) and others may track UniformResource Locators (URLs) from a user by creating a table including auser identifier, the requested URL, and a timestamp. This method ofrecording can give a chronological sequence of URLs for the user. Aproblem with this chronological listing is that it may not accuratelyshow the URL from which the user requested the current URL. This can beimportant where compensation between parties depends on the originating(source) URL and the current (destination) URL. Because an accuratelisting all of this movement may not be possible, the parties maydispute how much money, if any, one company owes the other company. Anaccurate list may be needed for other purposes, such as creating userprofiles and the like.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

A data processing system-implemented method can be used to better tracka user's movements between network addresses. A frame identifier can beused to help track the movements. A table can be generated that mayinclude entries comprising a frame identifier, current network address,prior network address, time, and potentially other information. Theimproved accuracy of the movements allows better accountability betweencompanies for financial arrangements regarding links to each other'snetwork sites and allows for more accurate user profiles to be created.

In one set of embodiments, a data processing system-implemented methodof tracking movement between network addresses can comprise receiving afirst frame identifier and a first network address at a first time. Themethod can also comprise finding a record including the first frameidentifier, a second network address, and a second time. The second timemay precede the first time. The method can further comprise generatingan entry for a table that includes the first frame identifier, the firstnetwork address, the second network address, and a third time.

In another set of embodiments, a data processing system-implementedmethod of tracking movement between network addresses can comprisedisplaying a first view to a user. The first view may include a firstframe having a first frame identifier and a second frame having a secondframe identifier. The method can also comprise receiving a first requestfor a first network address from the user. The first request can begenerated by the user activating a first object within the first frame.The method can further comprise sending the first frame identifier andthe first network address at a first time. The method can yet furthercomprise finding a record including the first frame identifier, a secondnetwork address, and a second time. For the first frame identifier, thesecond time may precede the first time. The method can still furthercomprise generating a first entry for a table that includes the firstframe identifier, the first network address, the second network address,and a third time.

In still other embodiments, a data processing system readable medium canhave code embodied within it. The code can include instructionsexecutable by a data processing system. The instructions may beconfigured to cause the data processing system to perform the methodsdescribed herein.

The foregoing general description and the following detailed descriptionare exemplary and explanatory only are not restrictive of the invention,as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the accompanying figures, in which like referencesindicate the same elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 includes an illustration of a hardware architecture for carryingout methods of tracking movement between network addresses;

FIG. 2 includes an illustration of a data processing system readablemedium including software code;

FIGS. 3A and 3B include a process flow diagram illustrating a method oftracking movement between network addresses;

FIG. 4 includes an illustration of a view with frames displayed to auser; and

FIG. 5 includes an illustration of a node diagram shown a sequence ofnetwork addresses accessed by the user.

Skilled artisans appreciate that elements in the figures are illustratedfor simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale.For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures maybe exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improveunderstanding of embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of theinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts (elements).

A data processing system-implemented method can be used to better tracka user's movements between network addresses. The method can comprisesending a frame identifier (“ID”) and a requested (current) networkaddress at a first time. The method can also comprise finding a recordincluding the frame identifier that has a prior network address and atime prior to the current time. The method can further comprisegenerating an entry for a table that includes the frame identifier, thecurrent network address, the prior network address, and time. Improvedaccountability and improved user profile accuracy may be obtained withthe method. A data processing system readable medium can comprise codethat includes instructions for carrying out the method.

A few terms are defined or clarified to aid in understanding thedescriptions that follow. A network includes an interconnected set ofserver and client computers over a publicly available medium (e.g., theinternet) or over an internal (company-owned) system. A user at a clientcomputer may gain access to the network using a network access provider.An Internet Service Provider (“ISP”) is a common type of network accessprovider. A network address includes information that can be used by aserver computer to locate information, whether internal to that servercomputer or at a different, remote computer or database. URLs areexamples of network addresses. A network site corresponds to a locationspecified by a network address. A web site is a common type of networksite. Note that the examples given within this paragraph are forpurposes of illustration and not limitation. Regarding ownership andcontrol, a first party significantly owns or controls a second party orproperty if the second party is an employee of the first party or if thefirst party owns or controls (as determined by the voting percentage ornumber of voting shares) at least 20 percent of the second party orproperty.

Before discussing details of embodiments of present invention, ahardware architecture for using embodiments is described. FIG. 1illustrates an exemplary architecture and includes a client computer 12that is bi-directionally coupled to a network 14, and a tracking servercomputer 16 that is bi-directionally coupled to the network 14 anddatabase 18. A content server computer 15 is bi-directionally coupled tothe network 14 and database 17. The client computer 12 includes acentral processing unit (“CPU”) 120, a read-only memory (“ROM”) 122, arandom access memory (“RAM”) 124, a hard drive (“HD”) or storage memory126, and input/output device(s) (“I/O”) 128. The I/O devices 128 caninclude a keyboard, monitor, printer, electronic pointing device (e.g.,mouse, trackball, etc.), or the like. The content server computer 15 caninclude a CPU 150, ROM 152, RAM 154, HD 156, and I/O 158, and thetracking server computer 16 can include a CPU 160, ROM 162, RAM 164, HD166, and I/O 168.

Each of the client computer 12 and the server computers 15 and 16 is anexample of a data processing system. ROM 122, 152, and 162, RAM 124,154, and 164, HD 126, 156, and 166, and the databases 17 and 18 includemedia that can be read by the CPU 120, 150, or 160. Therefore, each ofthese types of memories includes a data processing system readablemedium. These memories may be internal or external to the computers 12,15, and 16.

The methods described herein may be implemented in suitable softwarecode that may reside within ROM 122, 152, or 162, RAM 124, 154, or 164,or HD 126, 156, or 166. FIG. 2 illustrates a combination of softwarecode elements 204, 206, and 208 that are embodied within a dataprocessing system readable medium 202 on storage device 200, such as ahard drive. In addition to those types of memories previously described,the instructions in an embodiment of the present invention may becontained on a data storage device with a different data processingsystem readable storage medium. The instructions may be stored assoftware code elements on a DASD array, magnetic tape, floppy diskette,electronic read-only memory, optical storage device, CD ROM or otherappropriate data processing system readable medium or storage device.

In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, the computer-executableinstructions may be lines of compiled C⁺⁺, Java, or other language code.Other architectures may be used. For example, the functions of theclient computer 12 may be incorporated into the tracking server computer16, and vice versa. Likewise, the functions of the tracking servercomputer 16 may be incorporated into the content server computer 15, andvice versa. More or fewer server computers can be used. FIGS. 3A and 3Binclude an illustration, in the form of a flow diagram, of the structureof such a software program.

Communications between the client computer 12 and the server computers15 and 16 can be accomplished using radio frequency, electronic, oroptical signals. When a user (human) is at the client computer 12, theclient computer 12 may convert the signals to a human understandableform when sending a communication to the user and may convert input fromthe user to appropriate signals to be used by the client computer 12 orthe server computers 15 or 16.

Attention is now directed to a method for tracking movement betweennetwork addresses as illustrated in FIG. 3A and 3B. A first view may bedisplayed at the client computer 12 to a user as illustrated in block302 of FIG. 3A. For example, the user may see view 400 as shown in FIG.4. View 400 may include a browser control section 402, a first frame404, and a second frame 406. The browser control section 402 can includeicons and pull-down menus to allow a user to move forward, backward,home, adjust preferences, or perform other functions with the browser.The first frame 404 may include a navigation bar or a set ofadvertisements, and the second frame 406 can include a body of the view400. The first frame 404 and the second frame 406 may include icons,hyperlinks, or other similar objects that can be activated by the userto go from a current network address to a different network address. Asshown in FIG. 4, the first frame 404 may have one network address, thesecond frame 406 may have another network address, and the compositeview 400 may include yet another network address.

As previously stated, the route used by a user to reach a networkaddress may have financial implications. The user may be able to accessa network address from each of the first frame 404 and the second frame406. In one example, assume that the first frame 404 has advertisementsfor products or services of one company (“advertising company”), and thesecond frame 406 represents the information from a company that controlsthe content server computer 15 (“content company”). If the user accessesa network address using a link or other object within second frame 406,the advertising company may not owe any money to the content company.However, if the user accesses a network address using frame 404, theadvertising company may owe fee to the content company. Therefore,identifying the frame and sequence of network addresses using that framemay have financial implications. Clearly, other business arrangementsare possible.

A request for a first network address from a first frame 404 can be sentfrom the user and received by the client computer 12 as shown in block304 in FIG. 3A. The request can be made when the user (at clientcomputer 12) activates an icon, a link, or other similar object withinthe first frame 404 by use of an electronic pointing device, such as amouse, a trackball, or the like. A signal, which may include a firstframe ID for the first frame 404 and the first network address can besent from the client computer 12 and received by the tracking servercomputer 16 (block 322) via network 14.

The tracking server computer 16 can search records that include thefirst frame identifier (block 342). In one embodiment, the records canreside within a table in database 18. The records may be organized inrows and columns. The rows may correspond to each instance of a networkaddress request. The columns may correspond to different fieldsincluding frame identifier, prior (originating or source) networkaddress, current (destination) network address, time (e.g., timestamp orother temporal information), and the like. Optionally, a user identifiermay be included as a field.

After locating the records for the same frame identifier, the trackingserver computer 16 can find the record that immediately precedes (beforeand closest in time to) the request (block 344 in FIG. 3B). The trackingserver computer 16 can generate an entry for the table that may includethe first frame identifier (for frame 404), the first (current) networkaddress that corresponds to the request, the immediately preceding(second) network address for that same frame identifier, and a timestampor other temporal information (block 346). The timestamp or othertemporal information may be substantially the same time at which thesignal is sent from the client computer 12 to the tracking servercomputer 16 regarding the request. Usually, the time difference betweenthe timestamp and the time the client computer 12 sends the first frameID and first network address to the server computer 16 is no more thanone minute. In this manner, a table is created that includes the currentand prior network addresses to more accurately track the movement of theuser from one network address to another network address for a specificframe identifier.

The first network address can be sent from the tracking server computer16 to the content server computer 15 as shown in block 362. This may beperformed at the same time or just before or after the actions in blocks322, 342, 344, and 346 are performed. The content server computer 15 mayaccess database 17 to obtain information related to the first networkaddress.

A second view (not shown) corresponding to the first network address canbe sent from the content server computer 15 over network 14 to theclient computer 12. The view may be displayed on the I/O 128 at clientcomputer 12 for the user to see or print. The time for performing theacts within the method can be performed relatively quickly. Therefore,the method may be transparent to the user because he or she may seelittle time lapse between requesting a network address can seeing thecorresponding view for that network address.

The method may continue with the user requesting to be sent back to view400. In this instance, the user may be re-displayed view 400. The usermay decide to originate a request for a network address from frame 406(second frame) instead of from frame 404. The method can proceed in asimilar manner as the request that was made from frame 404. The userwould make a request for a new network address from frame 406. Theclient computer 12 can send a signal to the tracking server computer 16via the network 14 that would include the frame identifier for frame 406and the network address being requested from frame 406. The trackingserver computer 16 can find the immediately preceding record with thatsame frame identifier. An entry in a table can be generated by servercomputer 16 including the second frame identifier for frame 406, thecurrent network address, the prior network address, and a differenttimestamp compared to the timestamp for the first frame identifierrequest. The second network address may be sent from the trackingcomputer 16 and received by the content server computer 15. The contentserver computer 15 may send and the client computer 12 may receive aview corresponding to the network address as requested from frame 406for the user at client computer 12 to see or print.

After data in the table has been collected, a node diagram can becreated that tracks the movement of the user at one frame when movingfrom one network address to another. FIG. 5 includes node diagrams tobetter illustrate the movement within frames. String 500 includes ofchronological node diagram for the user at client computer 12. Each noderepresents a network address. As can be seen, the user requested networkaddress 522 first, network address 542 second, network address 524third, network address 544 fourth, and network address 526 fifth. Fromthis diagram, one may conclude that the user went from network address522 to network address 542, but this may not be the case.

String 520 may illustrate a sequence of network addresses thatoriginated from frame 404 but not frame 406, and string 540 mayillustrate a sequence of network addresses that originated from frame406 but not frame 404. Because the user may switch between frames, theorder in string 500 does not represent the manner in which the user wentfrom network address to network address for a specific frame. As shownin string 520, the user may have accessed network address 524 directlyfrom network address 522 as shown in string 520, and not from networkaddress 542 as shown in string 500. Similarly, the user may haveaccessed network address 544 directly from network address 542 as shownin string 540, and not from network address 524 as shown in string 500.Clearly, strings 520 and 540 more accurately reflect the movement of theuser between network addresses from specific frames. When financialarrangements or a user profile depend on this tracking information, theaccurate tracking movement between network addresses is needed. Activitystatements can be generated that indicate that a sequence of networkaddresses was activated from the various frames.

The method works substantially the same if the user has more than onecopy of a browser application open at client computer 12. Each copy mayhave its own frame identifier, as generated by client computer 12.Instead of having different frames (404 and 406) in a single window, theframes are in different windows.

While much of the discussion has focused on the tracking server computer16, at least a portion of the method may alternatively be performed bythe client computer 12 in assembling information for the table. Forexample, a table may reside within HD 126 of client computer 12. Theclient computer 12 may create the table with the frame identifier,current network address, prior network address, and timestamp. Theinformation within the table on client computer 12 may be downloaded toa larger table within the database 18 via tracking server computer 16 orother location external to client computer 12 on a periodic or otherbasis.

In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described withreference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in theart appreciates that various modifications and changes can be madewithout departing from the scope of the present invention as set forthin the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are tobe regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and allsuch modifications are intended to be included within the scope ofpresent invention.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed above with regard to specific embodiments. However, thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that maycause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essentialfeature or element of any or all the claims. As used herein, the terms“comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intendedto cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method,article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not includeonly those elements but may include other elements not expressly listedor inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

1. A data processing system-implemented method of tracking movementbetween network addresses comprising: receiving a first frame identifierand a first network address at a first time; finding a record includingthe first frame identifier, a second network address, and a second time,wherein the second time precedes the first time; and generating an entryfor a table that includes the first frame identifier, the first networkaddress, the second network address, and a third time.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first time and the third time are substantially asame time.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a viewto a user before receiving the first frame and the first networkaddress, wherein the view includes the first frame and a second framehaving a second frame identifier.
 4. The method of claim 3, furthercomprising generating a node diagram illustrating a sequence of networkaddresses that originated from the first frame but not the second frame.5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to receiving,sending a view corresponding to the first network address to a computerthat requested the first network address.
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising generating a statement of activity, wherein: thefirst network address is significantly owned or controlled by a firstparty; the second network address is significantly owned or controlledby a second party; the first party is not significantly owned orcontrolled by the second party, and the second party is notsignificantly owned or controlled by the first party; and the statementindicates that a user activated the second network address from thefirst network address.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein: receivingfurther comprises receiving a user identifier; and the second time isclosest in time to the first time for the user identifier and frameidentifier.
 8. A data processing system-implemented method of trackingmovement between network addresses comprising: displaying a first viewto a user, wherein the first view includes a first frame having a firstframe identifier and a second frame having a second frame identifier;receiving a first request for a first network address from the user,wherein the first request is generated by the user activating a firstobject within the first frame; sending the first frame identifier andthe first network address at a first time; finding a record includingthe first frame identifier, a second network address, and a second time,wherein, for the first frame identifier, the second time precedes thefirst time; and generating a first entry for a table that includes thefirst frame identifier, the first network address, the second networkaddress, and a third time.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the firsttime and the third time are substantially a same time.
 10. The method ofclaim 8, further comprising displaying a second view corresponding tothe first network address to the user.
 11. The method of claim 8,wherein the second time is closest in time to the first time for thefirst frame identifier.
 12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:receiving a second request for a third network address from the user,wherein the second request is generated by the user activating a secondobject within the second frame; sending the second frame identifier andthe third network address at a fourth time; finding a record having thesecond frame identifier, a fourth network address, and a fifth time,wherein, for the second frame identifier, the fifth time precedes and isclosest in time to the fourth time; and generating a second entry forthe table that includes the second frame identifier, the third networkaddress, the fourth network address, and a sixth time.
 13. A dataprocessing system readable medium having code embodied therein, the codeincluding instructions executable by a data processing system, whereinthe instructions are configured to cause the data processing system toperform a method of tracking movement between network addresses, themethod comprising: receiving a first frame identifier and a firstnetwork address at a first time; finding a record including the firstframe identifier, a second network address, and a second time, whereinthe second time precedes the first time; and generating an entry for atable that includes the first frame identifier, the first networkaddress, the second network address, and a third time.
 14. The dataprocessing system readable medium of claim 13, wherein the first timeand the third time are substantially a same time.
 15. The dataprocessing system readable medium of claim 13, wherein the methodfurther comprises sending a view to a user before receiving the firstframe and the first network address, wherein the view includes the firstframe and a second frame having a second frame identifier.
 16. The dataprocessing system readable medium of claim 15, wherein the methodfurther comprises generating a node diagram illustrating a sequence ofnetwork addresses that originated from the first frame but not thesecond frame.
 17. The data processing system readable medium of claim13, wherein the method further comprises, in response to receiving,sending a view corresponding to the first network address to a computerthat requested the first network address.
 18. The data processing systemreadable medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprisesgenerating a statement of activity, wherein: the first network addressis significantly owned or controlled by a first party; the secondnetwork address is significantly owned or controlled by a second party;the first party is not significantly owned or controlled by the secondparty, and the second party is not significantly owned or controlled bythe first party; and the statement indicates that a user activated thesecond network address from the first network address.
 19. The dataprocessing system readable medium of claim 13, wherein: receivingfurther comprises receiving a user identifier; and the second time isclosest in time to the first time for the user identifier and frameidentifier.
 20. A data processing system readable medium having codeembodied therein, the code including instructions executable by a dataprocessing system, wherein the instructions are configured to cause thedata processing system to perform a method of tracking movement betweennetwork addresses, the method comprising: displaying a first view to auser, wherein the first view includes a first frame having a first frameidentifier and a second frame having a second frame identifier;receiving a first request for a first network address from the user,wherein the first request is generated by the user activating a firstobject within the first frame; sending the first frame identifier andthe first network address at a first time; finding a record includingthe first frame identifier, a second network address, and a second time,wherein, for the first frame identifier, the second time precedes thefirst time; and generating a first entry for a table that includes thefirst frame identifier, the first network address, the second networkaddress, and a third time.
 21. The data processing system readablemedium of claim 20, wherein the first time and the third time aresubstantially a same time.
 22. The data processing system readablemedium of claim 20, further comprising displaying a second viewcorresponding to the first network address to the user.
 23. The dataprocessing system readable medium of claim 20, wherein the second timeis closest in time to the first time for the first frame identifier. 24.The data processing system readable medium of claim 20, furthercomprising: receiving a second request for a third network address fromthe user, wherein the second request is generated by the user activatinga second object within the second frame; sending the second frameidentifier and the third network address at a fourth time; finding arecord having the second frame identifier, a fourth network address, anda fifth time, wherein, for the second frame identifier, the fifth timeprecedes and is closest in time to the fourth time; and generating asecond entry for the table that includes the second frame identifier,the third network address, the fourth network address, and a sixth time.